Trustees reschedule meeting about layoffs

CHULA VISTA: The Sweetwater Union High School District board has postponed until Monday a decision on whether to issue tentative layoff notices to about 170 educators.

On Tuesday the Sweetwater administration lowered the number of employees scheduled to receive notices to 116 and scheduled a board meeting for Monday at 5:30 p.m. to consider the revised plan.

The board was originally scheduled to act on the proposal this week. Educators, students and parents packed the board room so tightly that the fire marshal briefly declared the meeting over.

To accommodate the expected crowd, Monday's meeting will be at Sweetwater High School, 2900 Highland Ave., in National City.

Sweetwater is searching for $11.6 million in spending cuts to balance the budget for the year that begins on July 1. Employees who may receive layoff notices include counselors, English teachers, social science teachers, physical education teachers, Spanish teachers, art teachers and nurses.–C.M.

Applications due soon for Hispanic youth grants

SAN DIEGO: The deadline to submit applications for Hispanic Heritage Foundation grants for high school seniors is midnight March 13.

The Washington, D.C.-based organization will provide more than $500,000 in education grants to more than 200 Latino students across the country. The grants will be handed out at the 12th annual Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards, which helps identify and prepare Latino leaders.

Students will be selected for their classroom and community accomplishments and for their interest in various categories, such as business, education and journalism. The U.S. Army will recognize students for leadership skills. Teachers who have made a difference in the students' lives also will be honored at ceremonies around the country.

In San Diego, the ceremony will take place April 22 at the University of San Diego. Applications can be found at hispanicheritage.org or at Subway restaurants.–J.Z.

Councilman to hold public discussions

CHULA VISTA: Chula Vista Councilman Rudy Ramirez will hold public office hours from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Chula Vista City Council Chambers, 276 Fourth Ave. The conversation will be in Spanish. Discussion topics include the city's budget shortfall and planning projects. There will be English translation at the meeting.

Ramirez holds public office hours every first Monday of the month. Information: (619) 585-5717. –D.B.

Mediator to enter talks with teachers union

CHULA VISTA: A mediator will enter negotiations between Sweetwater Union High School District's management and its teachers union.

The two sides have met three times to establish salaries and working conditions for the coming year while the Sweetwater district looks for $11.6 million in budget cuts.

District spokeswoman Lillian Leopold said the district declared the impasse Tuesday, which triggers the involvement of the state Public Employment Relations Board. The district has proposed a 2 percent salary cut and expansion of middle and high school class sizes from 28 students to 30 students.

The Sweetwater Education Association, which represents the district's 1,900 teachers and other certified educators, has not responded to the proposals. The union leadership first wants to see whether the district follows through on its offer of an early retirement incentive.

The application deadline to apply for early retirement is March 31, after which Sweetwater will calculate whether it has enough applicants to make the proposal viable. –C.M.

Staff writers David Berlin, Janine ZÚñiga and Chris Moran contributed to this report.